Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomano’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Hokomano’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; strong erect stems; freely flowering habit; and globular mophead-type inflorescences with white-colored sterile flowers with green-colored margins and red purple-colored centers.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HOKOMANO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hokomano’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Magical Emerald’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,464). The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Magical Emerald’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Hokomano’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Hokomano’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Strong erect stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Globular mophead-type inflorescences with white-colored         sterile flowers with green-colored margins and red         purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the parent, ‘Magical Emerald’, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Hulk’ have pink-colored sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Snowball’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Snowball’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have shorter lateral branches         than plants of ‘Snowball’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Snowball’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Snowball’ have white-colored sterile         flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Magical Pearl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,614. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Magical Pearl’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer lateral branches than         plants of ‘Magical Pearl’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Magical Pearl’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Magical Pearl’ have light green to         white-colored sterile flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Hokomano’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘Hokomano’.

The photograph on the third is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Hokomano’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 17° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomano’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea     macrophylla ‘Magical Emerald’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,464). -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five weeks at             temperatures of 10° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             weeks at temperatures of 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures of 10° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; cream in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching; medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/growth habit.—Upright plant habit; broad inverted             triangle; strong erect stems; about eleven lateral branches             develop per plant, pinching enhances lateral branch             development; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 53.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 72.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 31.9 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 9.6 cm. Texture, developing             and fully developed: Smooth, glabrous. Angle: Mostly erect             to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color,             developing: Close to 143C. Color, fully developed: Close to             199B and N199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 11.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic to oblong.         -   Apex.—Broadly apiculate.         -   Base.—Rounded to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly rugose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B to N137C;             venation, close to 145C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single fertile and sterile flowers             arranged on terminal mophead-type panicles; panicles             globular; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and             fertile flowers face upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late             spring to late summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on             the plant; sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about one week on the plant; fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 35             fertile flowers and about 125 sterile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 11.2 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 18 cm.         -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to N144C.         -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter:             About 7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Fertile flowers.—Diameter: About 6 mm. Depth: About 6 mm.             Shape: Rotate, campanulate. Petals: Quantity: Four. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 143B; towards the base, close             to 65D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143B; towards the base, close to 65D. Sepals: Quantity:             Five. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1.2 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C. Pedicels:             Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Angle: About 10° from vertical. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 68D tinged with close to             145C. Reproductive organs: Stamens: Quantity per flower:             Eight. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to             68D and 69A. Anther shape: Broadly reniform. Anther length:             About 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 156D. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145B to 145C tinged with             close to 69A. Style length: About 0.6 mm. Style color: Close             to 145B to 145C tinged with close to 68D. Ovary color: Close             to 145C to 145D.         -   Sterile flowers.—Shape: Rotate. Diameter: About 4.9 cm.             Depth (height): About 1.5 cm. Petals: Quantity: Four.             Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 72D and 73A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 73B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 75C. Sepals: Quantity: Four. Length:             About 2.7 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Broadly deltoid to             broadly rhomboidal or orbicular. Apex: Broadly to bluntly             acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 69C to 69D. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 69D and N155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 67A to 67B, apex close to 146D; with development, close             to NN155C to NN155D, towards the apex, close to 145B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 75B to 75C tinged with close             to 145B to 145C; with development, close to NN155C to             NN155D, towards the apex, close to 145B. Pedicels: Length:             About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm Strength: Strong. Angle:             About 30° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             68C. Reproductive organs: Stamens: Quantity per flower:             Eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to             72C to 72D. Anther shape: Broadly reniform. Anther length:             About 0.75 mm Anther color: Close to 156D. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: Three. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 187B. Style length:             About 0.6 mm. Style color: Close to 72C to 72D. Ovary color:             Close to 72D and 73A.         -   Fruits/seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Disease/pest resistance:

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea.

-   Temperature tolerance:

Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomano’ as illustrated and described. 